The Angel's Curse

Chapter Two

It had been only a tall tale, a fabrication of an elder woman's overactive imagination. That's all the old woman's story was in my eyes. No sane person could comprehend such a story, then defend it as she had. It made no sense to me as I thought about it from the comfort of my home. It had been only a few hours since the verbal altercation, leaving me with plenty of time to judge my actions once work had been done. Between packing and trying to do minor repairs on the house, my emotions had been on a hair-trigger, it seemed. Every little thing tightened the wire until it threatened to snap.

That woman was just unlucky to have done just that. I have got to give myself this. I bit my tongue on what I really wished to tell her. To let her know how it felt knowing a stranger was filling my daughter’s head with fairytales. Then I recalled how it’s not much different from the stories Ember and I have told her. Our own tale of twisted fantasy that would give birth to the sweet laughter of a child.

Sighing softly to myself, I moved over the black linoleum flooring, looking out the kitchen window towards the front yard where my little light was playing. Dancing around the darkness with her Aunt at her side. The two of them laughing, jumping about to collect the lightning bugs that rose from the grass, fluttering about filling the night with bursts of hope and joy. Lily jumped, outstretching her little arms to reach one of the little bugs that had been escaping. Cupping her hands over it, she brought it close to her chest. That beautiful smile of hers was illuminated by the glow once her hands parted for her to peer into them.

“My little bug.” I giggled, resisting the urge to lean against the counter to keep watching this fun-filled sight, momentarily recalling how Ember had broken the flimsiest counter in the room when she tried to reach to place the plates in the cabinet above it. Between the pressure and the splintering wood, it was bound to happen. In the end, I was just glad her wound wasn’t any worse than a small one-inch-long cut along the palm of her hand with splinters to match.

~That morning, prior to the altercation~

“It’s not funny, Ember! What if you got hurt worse than this?!” I had snapped at her, treating her wound with items commonly found in any basic first aid kit. Using sterile tweezers to remove the splinters from her skin, I tried my hardest not to hurt her. It was unbelievable! The relator had assured me that the counters were stable, that the wood had been treated to look aged. There had been no doubt in my mind after that, this was the home I had wanted to live in, and now this!

“Relax, Ro! This isn’t even that bad a cut!” Ember assured me, her hysterical laughter only aggravated me further. She was such a child! Going out of her way to do whatever she pleased, not even worrying about the risks or what the outcome of her actions could be. This was just like the time she had told me she wanted to try mountain climbing and sliced her hand on a rock, just with fewer rocks.

“I will not relax! What if Lily had been behind you?! Then your falling would have hurt her!”

“I wouldn’t have hurt her and you know it. Just please stop fussing, you’re going to get wrinkles, Miss. Health and Beauty columnist. “ She spoke teasingly, forcing me to bite my tongue. Her hazel eyes burrowing into mine, our stare down underway. My eyes narrowed, then her eyes followed suit. Both remaining silent, eyes locked, waiting for the other to back down. Neither of us liked to back down to the other, this being a typical sibling thing for us. It was a lot easier than arguing it out, which came in handy when Lily was a baby. We would start our little competition and the first to laugh, blink, or look away had to apologize AND make breakfast the next day. Needless to say, I was good at it.

“You know you won’t win, Em.” I bragged, smirking as a result. Ember didn’t say anything, her arms crossing over her chest, the right side of her hip sticking out as she shifted her weight onto that leg. Focusing on her, I didn’t see what was to come. She puffed out her cheeks, sucked them back in, and then wiggled her eyebrows childishly. Her antics threw me off, making me lose this time when I blinked.

“You were saying, sister dearest? Who wasn’t going to win?” She countered, bouncing on the balls of her feet in excitement. She had won this time, but the next time wouldn’t be easy for her. My pain-in-the-butt baby sister was too much at times. Well...all the time. Nonetheless, it didn't change a thing between us. She was my best and only friend I’ve ever needed since we were young. That fact has never changed.

“Yeah yeah, rub it in. You win, I’ll cook breakfast. Then after, we’ll go into town to see about getting the cabinets fixed. Deal?”

"Deal! Now I'll clean up this mess while you cook. " Ember concluded, taking care of the splintered bits of counter that coated the far side of the ash-colored kitchen.

~Current Time~

It hadn't been too long after they had all eaten that we had left for town. Neither of us had anticipated the events that would play out. Well, I didn't anyway. There was no planning I was going to have to find my child once she had strayed from my side. Nor did I expect to have an argument with an elderly woman just trying to distract the children while their parents shopped.

Heaving a mighty sigh, I could see now I may have overreacted when yelling at that woman. The stress of the move running far too ramped on my mind.

'I had been in the wrong this time and in front of my little girl too. ' I thought sliding the navy blue curtains closed for the night. The smooth satin gliding out of my grasp when the realization hit. Guilt taking a firm hold on my heart, poking at it with its sharp little claws. Each jab injected various amounts of its infectious toxin, attempting to overshadow the rest. To make me feel worse about it now that there was no time to make it right.

"I'll just worry about it tomorrow." I sighed, flipping the light switch, masking the room in a blanket of darkness. Traveling from there into the blended dining room living room combo, taking in the cream-colored walls that welcomed us since the move. Boxes lining the wall, furniture not even in their appropriate spots. Just strewn about until I could get to them, or Ember could help me bring them upstairs. The only item even close to its right placement was the circular mocha stained coffee table that rested somewhat in the center of the room. It was where my phone had been placed since I got home. With everyone I cared about it one place I didn't really need it on my person. Beside it though was the scrap paper with the name 'Trey Westing' written in a cute swirly script. Even the 'i' in his last name had a small little heart over it.

Rolling my eyes swiped the paper off the table, trying to ignore the little detail. It did make me a little jealous knowing this man had someone so infatuated with him she needed to write a heart with his name. Falling back into the recliner, I ran my fingers through my hair, really tempted to ruin Mr. Prince Charmings' good time. He probably was trying to flirt his way into some stupid unsuspecting girls' pants. I didn't know why it bugged me, but it did. Was I jealous of the girl who gave me the number or was it that I was more jealous of the fact he could go out and have a good time while I could barely enjoy my own time? Either way, I grabbed my cell from off the table, punched in the numbers then listened to the ring, waiting for an answer. Resting my right side against the back of the seat, enjoying the feeling of the fabric pressing against my arm. It was only comparable to a comforting hug, just without the arms. Something I’ve grown accustomed too with the lack of a partner. I guess I miss it, but it’s hard to venture towards what you want when you fear it all the same.

“Momma, look at all the lightning bugs we caught!” Lily exclaimed holding a large jar of the little lights in her arms. Ember right behind her, both of them covered in mud from the knees down. Eyeing them both from head to toe, I covered my mouth laughing softly.

“That’s great sweety, how about you get a bath, then I’ll be up there to tuck you in after this phone call,” I told her, wanting to just end my night with the most important person in my life. Lily’s eyes lit up joyously, her little hands gripping the jar tighter. The excitement in her eyes outshining the light of the fireflies.

” Okay! I’ll get the book out!” She exclaimed, placing the jar on the accent table beside the door, her feet pounding up the stairs. Ember leaned to the left slightly, watching the girl rushing past the banister, hearing the bathroom door close behind her.

“I’ll make sure she gets cleaned, then I’m gonna try to get some of these boxes emptied.” She was nice enough to inform me, smirking slightly when a masculine voice finally spoke on the other end of the phone. He had a deep masculine voice that was oddly charming, even to me. However, I wasn’t about to talk with Ember continuing to wiggle her eyebrows, insinuating how sexy the man sounded. She even dared to mouth, ‘ You should ask him out.’ over and over again. Leaning against the door frame, fanning herself off with her hand teasingly.

My face grew red from her playful teasing, leaving me no choice but to throw my slipper at her chasing her away. Though her loud laughter soon filled the air, traveling with her up the steps. Shaking my head, I heard him speak once more, my free hand rubbing my temple.

“Hello, Is this Mr. Westing?”

“Mr. Westing?... Oh you mean Trey. He’s currently away from the phone right now. May I take a message for him?” He responded a faint sound of fabric shifting against fabric could be heard. He was moving around on his side of the phone, making me curious as to what this person was to Mr. Westing.

“Yes please. Can you please ask Mr. Westing to call me back? I wish to ask him if he could build some counters to replace the ones that have broken. “ I answered, resting my head against the back of the chair, the weight of the day wearing me down the longer I stayed awake.

“ Oh no problem! He can be there tomorrow afternoon. Say about one? “

“Oh, okay. That will work. Thank you for your help.”

“Of course. I will need your name, I can get your number from the collar ID.”

“Right, it’s Veronica Freeman. Thank you again, enjoy your evening.”

“You as well, Miss Freeman. “ The phone went silent, a soft click indicating the end of the call. My hand falling to my lap, eyes closing briefly wishing to just fall asleep. But a promise is a promise and I had told Lily I would read her to sleep. Willing my body to get up from its comforting spot, I secured the door in the entry before turning off the lights to the living room. The first floor was now completely dark. On the left of the door was the stairway that went up to the second floor, the muffled laughter of Lily playing like a song from the bath, guiding me up the stairs to the second floor.

Leaving Ember to help Lily, I went into the girls’ room, the only room in the house that had been fully unpacked. The sky blue walls were decorated with images of clouds, angels, and other cute images that the child found interesting. Her favorite pictures always being of the fairy Tinkerbell from Peter Pan. I hadn’t cared too much for the child’s movie. Though it’s human equivalent, Finding Neverland, always tugged at my heartstrings. The simple love story between the writer and the family leaving a soft spot each time I watched it.

Going to the white wicker dresser, I fished out her pajamas for the night, a cute light green nightgown that had her favorite character on the chest. Placing them down in front of the mirror, I smiled looking behind me at the twin-sized trundle bed with a white painted frame. Little purple flowers twisted around the bars like ivy, just as Lily liked it. Resting on her puffy white pillow was the book she wished to have read that night. A tale I knew well and never got tired of reading to her. It was one story we could share having dreamed of something like this happening in our lives.

Going over to the bed, I sat on the edge, making out the sound of the tap shutting off. Lily would be there soon to finish getting ready. Ember normally having the child’s hair braided after a bath, leaving me with one less thing to worry about. Nevertheless, I picked up the little blue book with the tiny young girl sitting in an open flower. My fingers trailing over the yellow lettering, tracing out the name Thumbelina.

“You finished first this time!” Lily giggled, her golden hair still a little damp, but neatly woven into two cute braids that hung well past her shoulders. My eyes looking up from the book to her, giving her time to get dressed while I pulled the covers back on the bed.

“Yes I did! I even had time to pick out your favorite nightclothes, how’s that for the mother of the day?” I laughed standing beside the bed, flicking on a floral night light nearest to the door. Lily had been afraid of the dark ever since she was born, something I wholeheartedly believe her father had caused. Just like the nightmares, I had every couple of months around the time his calls would start popping up.

“You’re always Mom of the day for me!” Lily replied, pulling her nightgown down, rushing the bed. Laying down, she snuggled into her pillows, clutching a stuffed blue bear with a silver bow tightly in her arms. I pulled the covers over her, laying on top of them, my back to the door.

“And you’re always my little Lily bug.” I smiled holding her in my arms, feeling Lily snuggling into my side. My arm wrapped around her back, right hand gently stroking her back while I balanced the book in my other hand. My hand slowly grazed the bumps that protruded from her shoulder blades, praying that when she went to school she wasn’t going to be made fun of for the growths. Pushing away those thoughts, I didn’t want them to pass down to her. Smiling down at her she smiled back, looking away at the book. Taking a breath I began the story, holding my own little Thumbalena in my arms, wishing that one day her own prince would come and fall in love with her unique beauty.